Seybul Tech
- December 6, 2023
- Lucas Rackliffe
Get on Steam"Seybul Tech" is a walking simulator that takes you through a hauntingly odd realm, filled with liminal spaces and 90s tech. Each scene is meticulously crafted with striking lighting and accompanied by an original soundtrack. With no combat or puzzles, the game encourages exploration at your own pace, with a minimum runtime of 1 hour. Starting in a dimly lit office, you'll delve deeper into a surreal world after an unsettling encounter.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and immersive atmosphere, effectively capturing the eerie essence of liminal spaces with well-realized graphics and a fitting minimalist soundtrack.
- Players appreciate the game's respect for their time, featuring a save and load option, and many find the experience relaxing despite its short length.
- The soundtrack is highly praised, with many players expressing a desire to find it online due to its beauty and how well it complements the game's unsettling vibe.
- The gameplay is criticized for being overly simplistic and linear, with long stretches of walking through sterile hallways that can feel tedious and lacking in engagement.
- Some players found the game confusing, particularly the ending sequence, and felt that it didn't fully utilize its potential, leaving them wanting more interactivity and content.
- Technical issues, such as slow movement speed and awkward controls, detracted from the overall experience, leading some to feel frustrated rather than immersed.
- music50 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the eerie and dreamlike environments. Reviewers highlight the minimalist soundtrack as both beautiful and fitting, capturing a sense of unease and loneliness that complements the game's unsettling narrative. Many express a desire for the soundtrack to be available online, indicating its strong impact and appeal.
“The soundtrack perfectly captures a sense of unease and loneliness that can only be described as otherworldly and terrifying.”
“The story is at once disturbing and almost nonexistent; the music evokes a soft vaporwave Silent Hill tone, and the environment suggests a personality that's as sweet and dreamlike as it is foreboding and demonic.”
“The story is at once disturbing and almost nonexistent, the music evokes a soft vaporwave Silent Hill tone, and the environment suggests a personality that's as sweet and dreamlike as it is foreboding and demonic.”
“[td]✔️ The game is lifted up by the soundtrack, which is distinct, enigmatic, and makes you feel empty within.”
“The extremely creepy ending, along with the haunting soundtrack and well-paced narrative, enhances the eerie atmosphere of the game.”
- atmosphere44 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, effectively creating an eerie, liminal experience that captivates players. While some find the exploration rewarding, others feel the lack of puzzles and slow pacing detracts from replay value. Overall, the combination of sound design, visual aesthetics, and a haunting narrative contributes to a memorable, albeit brief, atmospheric journey.
“Amazing atmosphere and sound design.”
“The extremely creepy ending, along with the haunting soundtrack and well-paced narrative, enhances the eerie atmosphere of the game.”
“Walking around would be okay if the atmosphere were eerie or scary in some way.”
“Some people may find that strolling about and taking in the atmosphere is 'too little' because there are no puzzles to solve or gimmicks for you to find, especially with just a few chairs and tables randomly placed along the way.”
“Effective use of color grading and shadows to produce a suffocating, ominous atmosphere that has you wondering what could be hiding behind every dark corner.”
- story22 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and open to interpretation, offering a disturbing yet effective experience that encourages players to create their own narratives. While it lacks traditional plot elements and jump scares, the unsettling atmosphere, complemented by fitting music, enhances the overall experience. For its low price, the game provides a unique, dreamlike journey that may not appeal to everyone but is appreciated by those familiar with the walking-simulator genre.
“The story is at once disturbing and almost nonexistent, the music evokes a soft vaporwave Silent Hill tone, and the environment suggests a personality that's as sweet and dreamlike as it is foreboding and demonic.”
“The story is simple but unsettling and effective for what the game is.”
“Instead of traditional narration, we are free to invent our own story in our heads, especially for the game's conclusion and small details.”
“The story is at once disturbing and almost nonexistent; the music evokes a soft vaporwave Silent Hill tone, and the environment suggests a personality that's as sweet and dreamlike as it is foreboding and demonic.”
“The story is strange, leaves a lot to your interpretation, and provides no explanation.”
“Though it’s dressed up with some semblance of story, Seybul Tech really serves as a vehicle to deliver a gallery of minimal, odd, and occasionally eerie locations.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their outstanding quality and artistic style, particularly in capturing the eerie and cozy atmospheres of liminal spaces. Reviewers appreciate the game's unique aesthetic, which combines unsettling visuals with a nostalgic nod to 90s PC and PS1 graphics, making it stand out among backrooms games. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the immersive experience, enhancing the game's atmospheric and artistic appeal.
“Easily the best visuals in a backrooms game out of all that I have played so far.”
“The graphics are well realized and the minimal soundtrack fits the eerie mood perfectly.”
“Visually, the game is quite artistic, filled with references and graphics reminiscent of 90s PC/PS1 styles.”
“A short, very atmospheric, backrooms-style walking sim, featuring familiar liminal environments, slightly unsettling artworks and chill music.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that the game offers significant replayability due to its diverse content and multiple pathways, encouraging players to explore different strategies and outcomes. Many users appreciate the variety of challenges and unlockable features that enhance the overall experience upon replaying. Overall, the game's design fosters a strong incentive for players to return and experience new elements.
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making replaying it feel like a chore rather than an adventure.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to dive back in; the side quests are repetitive and uninspired.”
“Despite the initial excitement, the game offers very little variation in gameplay on subsequent playthroughs.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a strong integration of story and exploration, offering players an engaging experience that encourages them to immerse themselves in the game world. Players appreciate the balance between narrative progression and interactive elements, enhancing overall enjoyment.
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marred by prolonged scene transitions, slow movement speed, and various texture and shading glitches, although some players feel these issues contribute to the overall atmosphere. Additionally, certain areas are criticized for being excessively dark, which can hinder gameplay.
“Some scene transitions take too long, with nothing happening for an arbitrary amount of time. Some of the passages are too dark, movement speed is annoyingly slow, and there are numerous texture and shading glitches.”
